Dave Gahan: Depeche Mode frontman talks sobriety

Former MusiCares MAP Fund Stevie Ray Vaughan Award recipient reveals how sobriety has helped him embrace emotions he once tried to crush down

Brian Haack

MusiCares

Jun 19, 2017 - 6:00 am

Dave Gahan, co-founder of the venerable GRAMMY-nominated new wave/dance rock mainstay Depeche Mode, has a lot to be thankful for.

Along with surviving the typical ups and downs that are a necessary counterpart to the experience of spending nearly 40 years as the leading man in a world-touring rock band, the singer has also weathered more personal storms stemming from years of past drug and alcohol addictions.

Along the way, Gahan strove not just to lift himself from the depths of addiction — a herculean feat for any individual — but also worked tirelessly to support the charities and programs that helped give him a second chance, in turn providing support to other artists in recovery facing similar circumstances.

His efforts to support the missions of organizations such as MusiCares eventually led to his being honored with the MusiCares MAP Fund's Stevie Ray Vaughan Award in 2011. The annual award is given each year to artists who exemplify an ethos of dedication to helping others navigate the difficulties of the recovery process.

Gahan, the voice behind classics such as "Enjoy The Silence," has also found that sobriety has helped him be more expressive with his feelings.

"I'm known for wearing my feelings on my sleeve — as they say quite often — and I've found that, for me, that works because I don't want to bottle them up like that. I don't think that's good for anybody," Gahan says. "It's certainly not good for me because I tried doing that for years. I tried smashing down at the way I felt about everything with booze and drugs ... I mean, it works for a time, and then it doesn't. … There are points where you lose people or things happen, and they could be strangers, but they sometimes have a profound effect."

12 recovery icons: Alice Cooper to Smokey Robinson

Find out which musicians have made a mark on the music community worthy of the MusiCares MAP Fund Stevie Ray Vaughan Award

MusiCares

Jun 26, 2017 - 5:15 pm

GRAMMY.com

As MusiCares' flagship addiction recovery resource, the MAP Fund provides members of the music community access to treatment regardless of their financial situation.

To help raise funding for this life-changing program, a MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert is held annually. Among the awards bestowed at the event is the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award, which recognizes a recording artist for their devotion to helping other addicts with the recovery process.

Through 2017, the award has honored these 12 musicians for making a difference in the music community.

Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction), 2005

Find out which musicians have made a mark on the music community worthy of the MusiCares MAP Fund Stevie Ray Vaughan AwaBest known recently from television's "Ink Master," Navarro's rock and roll panache almost obscures his top-level guitar playing. He co-founded rock band Jane's Addiction and played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers for One Hot Minute, but the Southern California native is also a compassionate addiction recovery champion in the music community. A portion of the proceeds from Navarro's 2004 best-selling memoir, Don't Try This At Home, were contributed to the MusiCares MAP Fund.

James Hetfield (Metallica), 2006

Truly a metal legend, Hetfield has topped sales charts with Metallica worldwide alongside drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich since 1983. However, with song titles such as "Fade To Black," "Master Of Puppets" and "Enter Sandman," some anger and torment was more than just part of the show. Now sober for more than 15 years, few sobriety ambassadors have reached out to more people than the gravel-voiced Hetfield, who relies on his guitar and music to keep his own recovery on track. "Playing music saves my life," he said.

Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), 2007

Cornell's distinct voice and enormous heart had a pervasive influence on modern music, which will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. While his dedication to his craft was legendary, Cornell did much more than delight audiences with his songs. The Chris & Vicky Cornell Foundation was established in 2012 to "protect the most vulnerable children" who are victims of abuse. No stranger to hardship, the Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman said, "I myself, I've been in different situations throughout my life … so it's great to be able to be there and try and help someone else."

Alice Cooper, 2008

Known as an extreme showman who pioneered shock-rock exhibitionism onstage, Cooper is a true ambassador for sober living. While he hasn't completely abandoned his rock and roll persona, the "School's Out" legend is a lighthouse many have sought to help stay off the rocks. In 1995 Cooper, his wife Sheryl and Chuck Savale started Solid Rock, a foundation and teen center that aims to provide at-risk teenagers a safe home in the performing arts during nonschool hours.

Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), 2009

Kiedis' personal and creative struggles have fused with the GRAMMY-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers' driving musical messages across the entire span of their career. After an early exposure to drugs, and years spent battling his addictions, Kiedis found a new path of healing and service to others following a 2000 visit to Narcotics Anonymous, a MusiCares partner. Kiedis has since shared his experiences in his 2005 memoir, Scar Tissue, in which he underscores the importance of music in his sobriety: "I think art is inherently nonviolent and it actually occupies your mind with creation rather than destruction."

Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode), 2011

Through Depeche Mode's respected signature sound and electrifying tours, Gahan continues to attract new listeners. As he closed his MAP Fund benefit performance in 2011 with "Personal Jesus," the audience could feel his journey — taken several times — back from the edge of addiction. "The MusiCares MAP Fund is an unbelievably important and courageous organization," said Gahan. "They continue to make a momentous commitment to the music community."

Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains), 2012

Cantrell's complete talent as a singer, songwriter and guitar player helped established Alice In Chains as one of the forefathers of the Seattle sound alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. He spoke with pride about receiving an award named for Vaughan, himself an influential guitarist who struggled with addiction. During the MAP Fund benefit in 2012, Cantrell outlined his appreciation for sobriety. "It's cool to know that you can get here," said the writer of songs such as "Rooster," "Man In The Box" and "Nutshell." "It's nice to be [proof] that no matter where you find yourself in life you've always got a chance to turn it around."

Chester Bennington (Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots), 2013

Expressing contagious artistic happiness was one of the few constructive paths forward for Bennington, who in various interviews has revealed he weathered a difficult childhood. Millions treasure the songwriting truth that launched GRAMMY winners Linkin Park internationally, as their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory got ears hooked on its message of struggle and courage. With songs like "Numb" and "In The End," Bennington has always written what he knows, and now that includes his thoughts on recovery. "It's cool to be a part of recovery," he told Spin. "This is just who I am, this is what I write about, what I do, and most of my work has been a reflection of what I've been going through in one way or another."

Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath), 2014

Recognition arrived with a twist for this creative genius. As a member of Black Sabbath, Osbourne's experimentation moved the face of music and helped launch metal as a genre. While his music has always teetered on the darker side, the "Crazy Train" singer ultimately found a road home with the aid of people like his wife, Sharon Osbourne. "I know firsthand about the ravages of addiction and I also know that the MusiCares MAP Fund is a vital safety net for people in the music industry who need help with substance abuse," said Osbourne. "This organization literally saves lives."

Pete Townshend (the Who), 2015

A towering rock legend of 20th-century guitar, Townshend is best known as the mastermind behind Who albums such as Quadrophenia and Tommy. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist and successful solo artist, Townshend struggled with addiction and shared with the world the work he put in to get sober. To him, the uphill battle was worth it. "The reason I am able to get up onstage and do this tour with the Who and still put on a fairly good show is because of the 30 years I have been clean and sober," saidTownshend during his MAP Fund speech.

Smokey Robinson, 2016

As a songwriter, music executive and performer, few lives have shaped American music with an impact like Robinson. The Miracles' smooth, hopeful outlooks on life and love helped he and Motown Records' Berry Gordy conquer the world. When addiction entered his life, Robinson said, "I thought that it couldn't happen to me." The R&B legend credits a prayerful visit to church in 1986 for getting his footing and the benefits of a good diet and meditation for keeping him "Cruisin'" on the healing path.

Adam Clayton (U2), 2017

Through the years of U2's stellar success, bassist Clayton has capably held down the bottom end amid Bono's vocal wails and the Edge's signature guitar flourishes. He notes that helping hands reached out to him when he had succumbed to addiction, and now gratitude motivates him to extend his help to others. "As someone who has been through rehab and recovery, I absolutely acknowledge that lots of people run into difficulty with addiction," Clayton said. "My experience is that people in rehab and recovery are actually very courageous. It's great to know you can have a second chance."

Travis Meadows Talks Sobriety, Songwriting & 'First Cigarette'

The prolific Nashville-based songwriter goes deep on how MusiCares has helped him on his search for sobriety, the importance of journal writing and his new album, 'First Cigarette'

Brian Haack

MusiCares

Dec 1, 2017 - 2:34 pm

Nashville-based country singer/songwriter Travis Meadows is a survivor many times over.

Now seven years clean and sober, his path to recovery wandered a broken line that included four trips to in-patient rehab, not to mention a lifetime of hard lessons learned.

A professional musician since his teenage years, Meadows found religion in his early 20s and spent almost two decades traveling as a missionary, preacher, and active songwriter in the Christian music industry. At age 39, faced with growing disillusionment, he cut ties with the Christian music scene and relocated to Nashville to work as a traditional songwriter and performing musician, where he concurrently suffered a multiyear spiral into addiction and alcoholism.

The support network and partner services offered through MusiCares, which is designed as a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need, had a part to play in Meadow's effort to regain control of his life and find a sustainable path to recovery. Following the release of his third album, First Cigarette, the singer/songwriter sat down with us to discuss his ties to the organization, writing songs for his new project and artists such as Dierks Bentley, and his thoughts on personal writing and strategies for self-growth.

How did you first encounter MusiCares and at what point did their support enter the picture?
Well, it was in the very beginning. Sadly, I did not even know that MusiCares existed. I lived in a bubble — my drinkin' bubble. And when I came to the point when I said, "I need help," and just started telling everybody, "Get me outta here. What do I do?" There were some people that were somehow connected to MusiCares, and they are the ones that put me in treatment that very first time.

It's all a blur. All I remember is making that call, and I remember that MusiCares came up, and my [former] wife said, "Pack your bags, you're going in." And the very next morning I was on my way to treatment for the very first time. So MusiCares has been a part of my entire recovery experience. I am very, very grateful to them.

How you been able to make use of any of their other support systems or other partner services?
Mostly, for some medical needs here and there. [MusiCares has] also been a great resource for some friends of mine. In fact, though obviously I can't say the name, maybe three or four days ago I made a call and said, "I have a friend that is dying, and I think he's ready for help." And they've put that person in treatment. So they're still just an incredible resource.

I look at MusiCares like an angel of mercy. They've just been so much a part of my entire recovery experience, and I love them for it. It's hard to find words because I'm so deeply grateful.

"My phone is probably the most powerful weapon for sobriety that I have found. No matter where I'm at, I can call a friends and say, 'Look, I'm about to walk into this uncomfortable situation.' … It makes it a lot easier to remember that I'm not alone on this journey."

Is there anything you'd like to share that your journey to recovery has taught you about building positive coping mechanisms, dealing with repression, or that you think could help educate others who may be drawn to self-medicate in an attempt to deal with traumatic experiences?
For me, personally: writing, and surrounding myself with people and resources that I trust. [In] the chaos of using multiple substances, you kind of find yourself surrounded by a certain kind of people. The thing that worked for me was I had to change my playmates and my playgrounds.

That was really hard to do because I had years invested in these relationships. There was nothing wrong with those people per se, but it was just that I could not be in that surrounding anymore. So I started surrounding myself with a community of like-minded people and people that I trust. My phone is probably the most powerful weapon for sobriety that I have found. No matter where I'm at, I can call a friend and say, "Look, I'm about to walk into this uncomfortable situation." … It makes it a lot easier to remember that I'm not alone on this journey.

That's certainly been something very helpful for me, knowing that I have some people —including a couple of the people at MusiCares. Debbie [Carroll, Sr. Executive Director for MusiCares Nashville], in particular. She's been quite kind to me, and it's not always been business stuff. Sometimes it's just been, "I just wanted to tell you what was going on, and check in, and tell you how grateful I am today." It's pretty remarkable.

You've said in other interviews that many of the lyrics for 2011's Killin' Uncle Buzzy came out of writings that you didn't necessarily intend for people to hear — lines you wrote at the behest of your rehab counselor. Is the practice of personal writing something you think anyone/everyone could benefit from?
It absolutely helps, and it was quite a surprise. I was in treatment for the fourth time, and I was checking out, and one of the counselors suggested I keep a journal. I said, "Honestly I just don't do well with journaling. I wouldn't say that I'm lazy, [but] it just seems a little redundant, and I can't even read my own writing. But if you think it will help, I do write songs." And she kinda chuckled, and I said, "I'm not kidding. I don't want to die."

She [told me] the benefit of writing your thoughts down, and where you're at, is you may wake up one day and see some progress, and that will motivate you to keep going.

One song turned into two, and two became three, and it became evident that I was making a record, and that record changed everything for me. By the time that record finished I was nine months sober. It was life-changing. To this day, seven-something years later, I still find writing quite therapeutic.

Can you share a bit about the writing and inspiration behind "Riser" (written for Dierks Bentley), and what that song means to you today?
What a fantastic interlude to writing. I was just coming out of a real dark period when I first met [writing partner] Steve [Moakler]. Steve is just full of hope and full of optimism. He had just fallen in love, and you know, everything was going right in his world.

I had this idea about getting back up, and getting back into life, and Steve was the guy I wanted [to write with]. …Graciously, he accepted, and we wrote a beautiful song. I have lost count of how many people have sent pictures of these lyrics tattooed on their bodies.

Let's talk a bit about your brand-new album, First Cigarette. Can you break down the single "Underdogs"?
"Underdogs" is me, man. And it's you. It's everybody that's ever felt overlooked, a little misunderstood. I've always felt like I was a little bit on the outside looking in, in every situation. I've always pulled for the underdog.

What about "First Cigarette"? How did you make the decision to name the record for that particular track?Underdogs, to me, was the obvious [album] title. I just, for some reason, did not want to be too obvious. Every record I make, I like [people] to take a journey along with me. I like them to settle in and try to find the heart of the record. So "Underdogs" was the obvious title, but it was so obvious that I just felt like it might be taking the easy way out.

"First Cigarette" ended up being the sleeper on the record. … Just to address the obvious, [the song] actually doesn't have anything to do with smoking. It has to do with contentment and learning how to lean into it. We've spent a lot of time in this discussion talking about how challenging life can be, but there are also some beautiful moments. When those beautiful moments come, embrace them. Lean into them and enjoy them. They are gifts.

Chris Cornell, the late frontman for GRAMMY-winning rock band Soundgarden, donated one of his leather guitar straps just prior to his untimely death in May 2017. Now, thanks to the intriguing Rock LTD Collection, that guitar strap will have a chance to generate money to help support MusiCares' addiction recovery efforts.

Soundgarden win Best Metal Performance

The collection is built around one-of-a-kind watches whose leather bands are fashioned from personal items — ranging from guitar straps to leather jackets and pants — once owned by A-list musicians. Other musicians who have donated items to the collection include Dave Grohl, Iggy Pop, Elton John, and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic.

The collection, which has been offered seven times over the past 12 years, typically includes 25 to 30 watches sold at prices ranging from $1,200 to $1,800 depending on the rarity of the donor leather used to supply the watchband.

However, the watch cut from Cornell's guitar strap will tour several of Nixon's flagship retail locations in New York, London, and Paris, before being auctioned off at the MusiCares MAP Fund benefit in May 2018. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit MusiCares MAP Fund.

New Sublime Documentary Spotlights Recovery

'The Long Way Back: The Story Of Todd "Z-Man" Zalkins' to highlight the road back to sobriety and wellness

Philip Merrill

GRAMMYs

Sep 19, 2017 - 4:27 pm

"Santeria" and "What I Got" are ska-punk classics, giving Long Beach-based Sublime a prominent place in rock history.

Tragically, the death of singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell in 1996 came right before Sublime were poised for a big breakthrough. The Long Way Back: The Story Of Todd "Z-Man" Zalkins, a new documentary to be released on Vimeo on Oct. 17, will share insights on the band's addictive behaviors, the later addiction of Nowell's son and what it takes to travel the road back to sobriety and wellness.

Todd "Z-Man" Zalkins, a childhood friend of Nowell's who was part of the group's entourage, is the focus of the film, candidly speaking about how Nowell's passing affected him and his own 17-year addiction to Oxycontin.

"When Brad died, I thought that would be a wake-up call," said Zalkins. "It was the exact opposite — stuff ourselves with whatever substances we can to numb the pain and act like we're still having fun."

Additionally, the film spotlights Zalkins' attempt to help Nowell's son, Jakob Nowell, recover from his own battle with drugs and alcohol. As Zalkins puts it, "You constantly tell somebody tomorrow is going to be better, hoping it's better, because oftentimes tomorrow isn't better — tomorrow hurts just as much or maybe even more."

Despite its dark subject matter, the film offers a ray of hope. Zalkins now believes his past addiction "is the biggest asset that I have, because it's enabled me to help a lot of people."

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